Plymouth Argyle vs. Cheltenham Town – Prediction and Betting Tips | Aug 14, 2024
Plymouth Argyle will welcome Cheltenham Town to Home Park on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, for the first round of the EFL Cup. Both teams come into this match with contrasting fortunes from their respective league openers at the weekend. Plymouth Argyle, under the management of Wayne Rooney, suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in their Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday. In contrast, Cheltenham Town, fresh from their relegation to League Two, marked their return to the fourth tier with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newport County. This cup tie provides both teams with an opportunity to shift focus and gain momentum early in the season.
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Match Significance
This match is significant for both teams as they aim to build confidence following their contrasting starts to the season. Plymouth Argyle will be eager to put the disappointment of their opening league fixture behind them and progress in the cup, while Cheltenham Town will look to continue their positive start under new boss Michael Flynn. For Plymouth, advancing in the EFL Cup would help restore some confidence after their heavy defeat, while Cheltenham will be keen to prove their mettle against higher-tier opposition.
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Location and Time
The match will take place at Home Park, Plymouth Argyle’s home ground, with a kick-off scheduled for 7:45 PM UK time. The atmosphere at Home Park is expected to be lively as the Pilgrims look to bounce back in front of their home supporters.
Additional Tidbit
Plymouth Argyle has struggled in the EFL Cup in recent years, failing to progress beyond the early rounds since the 2007-08 season. Wayne Rooney will be eager to reverse this trend and lead his side to a strong cup run. On the other hand, Cheltenham Town, who reached the fourth round as recently as the 2020-21 season, will be aiming to upset their higher-league opponents and build on their positive start to the season.
Team Analysis
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle’s Championship opener was a tough outing, as they were handed a 4-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday. Despite a productive pre-season, Wayne Rooney’s men were unable to contain a rejuvenated Wednesday side, and the manner of the loss will have been concerning for the new manager. However, the Pilgrims will take solace in their recent home form, having won two and drawn one of their last three competitive matches at Home Park.
Current Form
Plymouth’s form has been inconsistent, with a challenging pre-season followed by a heavy defeat in their league opener. The upcoming EFL Cup tie presents an opportunity for Rooney to rotate his squad and assess his options while also aiming to secure a morale-boosting win.
Key Players
Kornel Szucs, a summer arrival, is expected to make his debut in this match, adding fresh legs to the defense. Regulars from last season, including Julio Pleguezuelo, Joe Edwards, and Ryan Hardie, are also likely to feature in the starting lineup. Ryan Hardie, in particular, will be looking to get on the scoresheet and kickstart his season after a quiet opening match.
Tactical Approach
Wayne Rooney is expected to make several changes to his lineup for this cup tie, giving opportunities to players who were on the bench during the weekend’s defeat. Plymouth may adopt a more attacking approach, aiming to take control of the game early and put pressure on their lower-league opponents. With home advantage, the Pilgrims will look to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities through their wide players and midfield runners.
Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town enters this match on a high after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newport County in their League Two opener. Michael Flynn’s side showed resilience, scoring a late winner after letting a two-goal lead slip. Flynn will now be keen to see his side carry that momentum into the cup, despite the challenge of facing Championship opposition.
Current Form
Cheltenham’s win at the weekend marked a positive start to their League Two campaign, and they will hope to continue that form in the cup. However, with a tough away game at Grimsby Town looming at the weekend, Flynn may choose to rotate his squad to keep players fresh for the league.
Key Players
Two-goal hero Joel Colwill may be rested for this match, with Ethon Archer potentially stepping in to lead the line. Midfielders Tom Pett and Matty Taylor are expected to feature, while Arkell Jude-Boyd could get a run out at right wing-back to give Lewis Payne a rest. Cheltenham’s defense will need to be solid, with Laing, Bennett, and Bakare likely to form the backline tasked with keeping Plymouth’s attack at bay.
Tactical Approach
Michael Flynn is expected to make some changes to his lineup, but the team’s overall approach will likely remain the same. Cheltenham will aim to stay compact and organized, looking to frustrate Plymouth and hit them on the counter-attack. With a focus on defensive solidity, Cheltenham’s midfield will need to work hard to disrupt Plymouth’s rhythm and prevent them from building momentum.
Head-to-Head Analysis
Plymouth Argyle has had the upper hand in recent meetings with Cheltenham Town, winning the last five encounters in all competitions. This historical advantage, combined with Plymouth’s higher league status, suggests that the home side will be favorites going into this match.
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Tactical Analysis
Plymouth Argyle’s Approach
Plymouth will likely dominate possession and look to assert their superiority early in the match. With a rotated squad, Wayne Rooney will want his players to play with intensity and take the game to Cheltenham. The focus will be on creating chances from wide areas and set-pieces, where Plymouth may have an advantage.
Cheltenham Town’s Approach
Cheltenham will focus on staying defensively organized and capitalizing on any opportunities to counter. With a more cautious approach, Flynn’s side will aim to frustrate Plymouth and make the most of any set-piece opportunities that come their way.
Prediction
Score Forecast
Given Plymouth’s home advantage and the difference in league status, they are likely to come out on top in this fixture. However, Cheltenham’s resilience and recent form suggest that they could make it a closer contest than expected.
(Odds are taken from bet365 and are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.T&Cs apply, 18+)
Both Teams to Score: Yes, as Cheltenham has shown they can find the net, and Plymouth’s defense may be vulnerable after their heavy defeat at the weekend.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over 2.5, given the likelihood of both teams finding the back of the net.
First Goal Scorer: Ryan Hardie (Plymouth Argyle), looking to bounce back after a quiet opening game.
Hot Stat: Plymouth Argyle has not progressed beyond the early rounds of the EFL Cup since the 2007-08 season.
119 average Markets available for Plymouth v Cheltenham
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